The alii nui of Kauai was the sovereign ruler of the islands of

Kauai Kauai (), anglicized as Kauai ( or ), is one of the main Hawaiian Islands. It has an area of 562.3 square miles (1,456.4 km2), making it the fourth-largest of the islands and the 21st-largest island in the United States. Kauai lies 73 m ...

and

Niihau Niihau (Hawaiian language, Hawaiian: ), anglicized as Niihau ( ), is the seventh largest island in Hawaii and the westernmost of the main islands. It is southwest of Kauai, Kauai across the Channels of the Hawaiian Islands#Kaulakahi Channel, Ka ...

Overview

The monarchs of Kauai, like those of the other

Hawaiian islands The Hawaiian Islands () are an archipelago of eight major volcanic islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the Pacific Ocean, North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the Hawaii (island), island of Hawaii in the south to nort ...

, claim descent from

Wākea In the Hawaiian religion, Wākea, the Sky father weds Papahānaumoku, the earth mother. The two are considered the parent couple of the ruling chiefs of Hawaii. ''Wākea'' was the eldest son of Kahiko ("Ancient One"), who lived in Olalowa ...

and his wife Papa. Nanaulu, a descendant in the fourteenth generation from Wakea, was the ancestor of Moikeha but his dynasty was supplanted after two generations. The second, or Puna dynasty was established by Laʻa-mai-kahiki, eleventh in descent from Puna-I-Mua who was twenty-fourth in descent from Wakea. Of course, every ''alii'' lineage is ancient, but the northern kingdoms produced the great bloodlines that everyone wanted to graft into, including

Kamehameha Kamehameha may refer to: House of Kamehameha *House of Kamehameha, the dynasty of the Hawaiian Kings **Kamehameha I (1736–1819), first king of the Hawaiian Islands **Kamehameha II (1797–1824), second king of the Kingdom of Hawaii **Kamehameha ...

. Theirs is the "bluest blood", and the kingdoms they created, while very much like the kingdoms that Kamehameha's grandparents and parents created, had a slightly different culture. The last ''alii nui'' of Kauai of the old uninterrupted line of Puna was Kaweloaikanaka. After his overthrow by Kaweloamaihunalii and that monarch's eventual death, the kingdom of Kauai fell to

Kualii Chief Kūali'i was a Hawaiian aliʻi of Oʻahu, who reigned in the 1700s. He was from Kailua, and led wars against the chiefs of Waialua, Ewa, and Waianae. Kualii was the subject of a famous ''mele'' or chant of 600 lines, originally composed b ...

Oahu Oahu (, , sometimes written Oahu) is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oahu's southeast coast. The island of Oahu and the uninhabited Northwe ...

. In 1810, Kaumualii, negotiated a peaceful end to his power with King

Kamehameha I of Hawaii Kamehameha I (; Kalani Paiʻea Wohi o Kaleikini Kealiʻikui Kamehameha o ʻIolani i Kaiwikapu kauʻi Ka Liholiho Kūnuiākea; to May 8 or 14, 1819), also known as Kamehameha the Great, was the conqueror and first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii ...

, in an effort to avoid bloodshed. The agreement allowed Kaumualiʻi to remain aliʻi nui until his death, when all lands would revert to Kamehameha's heir. After Kamehameha I's death, King

Kamehameha II Kamehameha II (November 1797 – July 14, 1824) was the second king of the Hawaiian Kingdom, Kingdom of Hawaii from 1819 to 1824. His birth name was Liholiho and full name was Kalaninui kua Liholiho i ke kapu ʻIolani. It was lengthened to Kala ...

renegotiated the same deal and took no lands. This outraged

Kaʻahumanu Kaʻahumanu (March 17, 1768 – June 5, 1832) (''"the feathered mantle"'') was queen consort and acted as regent of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi as Kuhina Nui. She was the favorite wife of King Kamehameha I and also the most politically powe ...

who came to the island after Kamehameha II had left and kidnapped Kaumualiʻi, taking him to

Honolulu Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

in 1821. After his death in 1824, his son George Kaumualii took back his birth name Humehume and attempted to re-establish an independent on Kauai, but was also eventually captured and taken to Honolulu.

List of ''alii nui'' of Kauai

The known independent rulers were: * Moikeha * Haulanuiaiakea * Laʻamaikahiki * Ahukini-a-Laʻa, * Kamahano * Luanuʻu * Kukona, 1350–1380 – sovereign of Kauai when

Kalaunuiohua Kalaunuiohua (''nui'' = “great”, ''ohua'' = "servant") was a High Chief of the island of Hawaiʻi in ancient Hawaii. He was a member of the Pili line. Kalau is his short name. Life Kalaunuiohua was born on Hawaiʻi (the Big Island), as a s ...

of Hawaiʻi invaded Kauaʻi. Kalaunuiohua made his descent on the coast of Koloa and was met in battle by Kukona's army. Kalaunuiohua's army was defeated and taken prisoner. * Manokalanipō, 1380–1410 * Kaumakaʻamano, 1410–1430 * Kahakuʻaʻkane, 1430–1460 * Kuwalupaukamoku, 1460–1480 * Kahakumakapaweo, 1480–1510 * Kalanikukuma, 1510–1540 * Kahakumakaliua Hakumakaliua, 1540–1560 * Kamakapu, 1560–1580 * Kawelo-mahamahaia, 1580–1600 * Kawelomakualua, 1600–1620 * Kaweloaikanaka, 1620–1650 * Kawelo-a-Maihuna-aliʻi, usurper (c.1650 – 1670) * Kuike-ala-i-keuoʻo-o-kalani ʻUnu-i-akea Ku-aliʻi, 1670–1730 *

Peleioholani Peleioholani (1690–1770) was a Hawaiian High Chief, the 21st Alii nui of Kauai and the 25th Alii nui of Oahu. He ruled an empire stretching from Niihau to Molokai. According to ancient traditions, Peleʻioholani was a descendant of Hema and ...

, 1730–1770 *

Kamakahelei Kamakahelei (c. 18th century - 1794), was the 22nd alii nui, or High Chiefess regnant, of the island of Kauai. She was the ruling chiefess of Kauai from 1770 - 1794. In some historical references she has been described as a regent for her sons Kea ...

, (female) 1770–1794 *

Kaumualiʻi Kaumualiʻi (c. 1778–May 26, 1824) was the last independent Aliʻi#Background, aliʻi nui (supreme ruler of the island) of Kauai, Kauaʻi and Niʻihau before becoming a vassal of Kamehameha I within the unified Hawaiian Kingdom, Kingdom of Hawai ...

1794–1810

References

4. �
Ka Makaainana newspaper, June 1, 1896, p. 7.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alii Aimoku Of Kauai Ali'i nui Hawaiian monarchs Hawaiiana

Native Hawaiian people People from Hawaii Polynesian titles Ali'i nui of Kauai

Overview

List of ''alii nui'' of Kauai

See also

References